'The Ballad Of The Ice-Worm Cocktail' by Robert Service


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Bar-Room BalladsTo Dawson Town came Percy Brown from London on the Thames.
A pane of glass was in his eye, and stockings on his stems.
Upon the shoulder of his coat a leather pad he wore,
To rest his deadly rifle when it wasn't seeking gore;
The which it must have often been, for Major Percy Brown,
According to his story was a hunter of renown,
Who in the Murrumbidgee wilds had stalked the kangaroo
And killed the cassowary on the plains of Timbuctoo.
And now the Arctic fox he meant to follow to its lair,
And it was also his intent to beard the Artic hare...
Which facts concerning Major Brown I merely tell because
I fain would have you know him for the Nimrod that he was.Now Skipper Grey and Deacon White were sitting in the shack,
And sampling of the whisky that pertained to Sheriff Black.
Said Skipper Grey: "I want to say a word about this Brown:
The piker's sticking out his chest as if he owned the town."
Said Sheriff Black: "he has no lack of frigorated cheek;
He called himself a Sourdough when he'd just been here a week."
Said Deacon White: "Methinks you're right, and so I have a plan
By which I hope to prove to-night the mettle of the man.
Just meet me where the hooch-bird sings, and though our ways be rude
We'll make a proper Sourdough of this Piccadilly dude."Within the Malamute Saloon were gathered all the gang;
The fun was fast and furious, and the loud hooch-bird sang.
In fact the night's hilarity had almost reached its crown,
When into its storm-centre breezed the gallant Major Brown.
And at the apparation, whith its glass eye and plus-fours,
From fifty alcoholic throats responded fifty roars.
With shouts of stark amazement and with whoops of sheer delight,
They surged around the stranger, but the first was Deacon White.
"We welcome you," he cried aloud, "to this the Great White Land.
The Artic Brotherhood is proud to grip you by the hand.
Yea, sportsman of the bull-dog breed, from trails of far away,
To Yukoners this is indeed a memorable day.
Our jubilation to express, vocabularies fail...
Boys, hail the Great Cheechako!" And the boys responded: "Hail!""And now," continued Deacon White to blushing Major Brown,
"Behold assembled the

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail: An Ode to Northern Wilderness

With its vivid imagery and rollicking rhythms, Robert Service's "The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the spirit of the Northern wilderness. Through its humorous and adventurous narrative, the poem celebrates the rugged nature of the Yukon and the strong-willed people who dared to conquer it. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, style, and symbolism of this classic work of poetry.

The Setting and Tone of the Poem

The poem is set in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Yukon, where the narrator and his companions are braving the cold and the dangers of the wilderness. The tone of the poem is adventurous and merry, with the narrator's humorous and irreverent voice leading the way. The poem is written in the form of a ballad, with a simple and repetitive structure that echoes the oral traditions of folk songs.

The ballad form of the poem is well-suited for the story it tells. The ballad is a form of poetry that is designed to be sung or recited, often with a musical accompaniment. The ballad is typically characterized by a simple and repetitive structure, with a clear and easy-to-follow melody that is easy to remember. The ballad form is especially well-suited for storytelling, as it allows the poet to tell a story in a way that is engaging and memorable.

The Characters and Narrator

The poem's protagonist is the narrator, who is unnamed but who speaks with a voice that is both humorous and adventurous. The narrator is a quintessential figure of the Northern wilderness, someone who is tough, resourceful, and unafraid of danger. The narrator is accompanied by a group of companions, who are also unnamed but who are described as being equally rugged and fearless.

The narrator's voice is an essential part of the poem's appeal. The narrator's voice is witty, irreverent, and full of humor. The narrator is a master storyteller, and he knows how to capture his audience's attention with his vivid descriptions and playful language. The narrator's voice is also imbued with a sense of nostalgia and longing for the Northern wilderness, which he clearly loves and respects.

Themes and Symbolism

The poem explores a number of themes related to the Northern wilderness, including the struggle for survival, the power of nature, and the importance of community. The poem also touches on themes related to human desire, including the desire for adventure, the desire for companionship, and the desire for fame and fortune.

One of the most important themes of the poem is the struggle for survival in the Northern wilderness. The poem describes the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Yukon, where the narrator and his companions must brave the elements and fend off dangerous wildlife in order to survive. The poem also describes the close-knit community of the Northern wilderness, where people rely on each other for support and protection.

Another important theme of the poem is the power of nature. The poem describes the awe-inspiring beauty of the Northern wilderness, as well as its deadly and unpredictable nature. The poem also explores the relationship between humans and nature, highlighting the ways in which humans try to conquer and control nature, even as they are humbled by its power.

The poem also uses a number of symbols to convey its themes. One of the most important symbols in the poem is the ice-worm cocktail, which represents the desire for adventure and the thirst for fame and fortune. The ice-worm cocktail is a fictional drink that is said to be made from the frozen bodies of ice-worms, which are said to be a rare and elusive creature of the Northern wilderness. The ice-worm cocktail is a symbol of the narrator's desire to conquer the wilderness and achieve fame and fortune.

The Poetic Devices Used in the Poem

The poem uses a number of poetic devices to convey its themes and create its unique style. One of the most important poetic devices used in the poem is rhyme. The poem uses a simple and repetitive rhyme scheme, with each stanza consisting of four lines that follow an ABAB pattern. The simple and repetitive nature of the rhyme scheme helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow that is easy to follow and remember.

The poem also uses a number of other poetic devices, including alliteration, metaphor, and repetition. Alliteration is used to create a sense of rhythm, with repeated sounds helping to create a musical quality to the poem. Metaphor is used to create vivid and memorable images, with the ice-worm cocktail serving as a powerful metaphor for human desire. Repetition is used to create a sense of continuity and repetition, with key phrases and images repeated throughout the poem.

Conclusion

"The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail" is a classic work of poetry that captures the spirit of the Northern wilderness. Through its vivid imagery, rollicking rhythms, and irreverent voice, the poem celebrates the rugged nature of the Yukon and the strong-willed people who dared to conquer it. The poem explores a number of themes related to the Northern wilderness, including the struggle for survival, the power of nature, and the importance of community. The poem also uses a number of poetic devices to create its unique style, including rhyme, alliteration, metaphor, and repetition. Overall, "The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail" is a masterpiece of poetry that continues to captivate readers with its humorous and adventurous spirit.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail: A Poem of Adventure and Mystery

Robert Service, the renowned poet of the Yukon, has gifted us with a masterpiece of adventure and mystery in his poem, The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail. This classic poem, written in Service's signature style of rhyming couplets, tells the story of a group of brave men who set out to find the elusive ice-worm, a creature that is said to inhabit the frozen wastelands of the north.

The poem begins with a description of the men who set out on this perilous journey. They are a hardy bunch, accustomed to the harsh conditions of the north, and they are led by a man named Bill. Bill is a seasoned adventurer, with a reputation for being fearless and resourceful. He is the one who has heard the legend of the ice-worm, and he is determined to find it.

The men set out on their journey, braving the cold and the snow, and soon they come across a cabin in the woods. The cabin is inhabited by an old man, who tells them the story of the ice-worm. According to the old man, the ice-worm is a creature that lives in the ice, and it is said to be as long as a man's arm. It is also said to be deadly, with a venomous bite that can kill a man in seconds.

Undeterred by the old man's warnings, Bill and his men continue on their journey, and soon they come across a frozen lake. It is here that they hope to find the ice-worm, and they begin to drill through the ice. As they drill, they hear a strange sound, like the hissing of a snake. Suddenly, the ice begins to crack, and a huge creature emerges from the water.

It is the ice-worm, and it is as fearsome as the legends say. The men are terrified, but Bill is determined to capture the creature. He manages to lasso the ice-worm, and he and his men drag it back to the cabin. There, they mix up a cocktail of whiskey and ice-worm venom, and they drink to their success.

The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail is a poem that is full of adventure and excitement. It is a tribute to the brave men who explored the frozen north, and it is a reminder of the dangers that they faced. The poem is also a celebration of the human spirit, and of the courage and determination that it takes to conquer the unknown.

Service's use of rhyming couplets gives the poem a musical quality, and it adds to the sense of excitement and adventure. The poem is also full of vivid imagery, from the frozen wastelands of the north to the fearsome ice-worm itself. Service's descriptions are so vivid that they transport the reader to another time and place, and they make the poem come alive.

The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail is also a poem that is rich in symbolism. The ice-worm itself can be seen as a symbol of the unknown, of the things that we fear but that we must confront if we are to grow and learn. The cocktail that the men drink can be seen as a symbol of their triumph over the unknown, and of their ability to conquer their fears.

In conclusion, The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail is a classic poem that is full of adventure, excitement, and symbolism. It is a tribute to the brave men who explored the frozen north, and it is a reminder of the dangers that they faced. It is also a celebration of the human spirit, and of the courage and determination that it takes to conquer the unknown. Service's use of rhyming couplets and vivid imagery make the poem come alive, and his use of symbolism adds depth and meaning to the story. The Ballad of the Ice-Worm Cocktail is a poem that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

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